National Poetry Day - The Birthing Pool

Well today is National Poetry Day
And water is the theme
So I could write about a river
Or a puddle, or a stream
But I thought about my birthing pool
And all the havoc it did wreak
When we found the floor was soaking
‘Cos the pool had sprung a leak
Now the room is like a sauna
Thanks to the big dehumidifier
And we’re waiting for replacement parts
From the birthing pool supplier
While the carpet slowly dries out
And the pool is out of action
We hope that baby stays put
And won’t start off a contraction

Writer's block

Oh, what can I write? My brain’s gone to sleep,
I lack inspiration which makes me just want to weep.
My thoughts are a blank and my mind’s in a maze -
It would seem that today is just one of those days!
I free-write for ten minutes in an attempt to get started,
But alas my creativity has sadly departed;
Can’t seem to focus on characters or places or plot,
All my pen can produce on the page is a blot.
I’m hunched over my notebook and chewing my pen;
Looks like writer’s block has hit me once again.

Lest We Forget

I stand amongst the stones of white
thinking of those men who went to fight in France:
Young men cut down in their prime;
names and faces lost in time.
This was “the war to end them all”
but as I watch the poppies fall
at the Remembrance Festival each November,
in the silence, I stop
and remember their sacrifice.
Time’s pages turn:
the world has changed yet we can’t learn
to live in peace.
So – on we fight and watch as lives are sacrificed
and war goes on.
But still we pray
that peace on Earth will come someday.

Ode to Michael's PhD: One Day More

A shortened version inspired by “Les Miserables”

One day more
Another day wrestling with Chemistry
Tomorrow I’ll hand in my PhD
And then perhaps a little wait;
Examiners will seal my fate
One day more
I’ve hardly slept for several days
Red Bull and caffeine are my friends now
One day more!
Exhaustion’s left me in a daze
But at least I can see the end now!

Tomorrow is the judgement day
I pray that it will be okay
Please let me get this doctorate that I’ve worked so hard for
One more dawn!
One more day!
One day more!

Domestic Goddess - c. 600BC

A wife of good character, where can you find
such a virtuous woman – noble and kind?
Just before dawn, while the family’s in bed,
she’s down in the kitchen: baking the bread.
She’s planted a vineyard – see all that is growing!
She busies herself with weaving and sewing,
making clothes for her family, quilts for her bed,
Ensuring the poor and the needy are fed.
Her manner is gentle; her words always wise;
she’s blesséd and praised in her family’s eyes.
A wonderful woman who has earned her reward,
but her strength only comes through her love of the Lord